Tag: garden art

Posted on by

Petals as Paint

The thing I like about art is that 20 people can be given the same exact supplies and be told to do what they will
And 20 different designs will be created!
I was thinking about this as I develop my Petals as Paint technique. It started with picking up seaglass and thinking that scanning it on my printer/scanner would be a cool way to save the look of it rather than photography.
The first scan got me hooked on the idea because if I just took a picture I wouldn’t see the intricacy of a little pile of glass and shells and coral. And I especially wouldn’t see the grains of sand and little debris that surrounds it. It was so magical to me. I started scanning leaves and sticks and all manner of found objects. I fell in love with that degree of detail!
Last spring I started scanning flowers and petals and blossoms and stems.. oh that first scan nearly made me cry. It was so beautiful to see the intricacies of creation and I couldn’t then just throw them out! So I started preserving them. I pressed them the only way I knew– between pages in the Children’s Encyclopedia. That works great most of the time but I didn’t like how long it took. So I read about microwaving. That works instantly and a majority turn out beautifully preserved in color. It reminded me of paint. It’s time consuming but it’s beautiful but not for every flower. And I learned about silica. I tried a little container and it preserves them in their original shape beautifully. So I got a big airtight bucket and more and more silica and soon I was using that bucket for weeks and the petals reminded me of paint strokes. And that made me think.. what if I used the petals as paint? I don’t have my children’s gift of painting with acrylic.. but the petals come in so many hues and shades with little details already built in. All I’d have to do is find a way to stick them on a substrate and arrange them how I want, thus led me to my battle with adhesives! (See an earlier post about that!!!).
So over the past few months this has been my joyous attempt at art. Each one becomes my favorite! And I am hoping they become other people’s favorite!

And now I hope you’ll visit Whatcom Art Market in Bellingham WA to see the originals or go online and shop for products with my designs at society6.com/refindcreations or in my Etsy store which is under construction!!
©Belindabotzong2018
To find the very best adhesives at the best price – I recommend the following:


Acrylic Medium Glossy https://amzn.to/2LCuLsd
Mod Podge https://amzn.to/2RjZ8sU
Krylon Spray Adhesive https://amzn.to/2BMfRLC

Posted on by

Works in Process—Lilies of the Field

I’m inspired to play in the petals for a few more weeks before turning back to working on my novel idea and waiting for my palette to be refilled with fresh “paints”!
Here’s what’s in process right now … along with a few more 4×4 Christmas themed tiles coming up next.


So fun!

©Belindabotzong2018
This one looks like the beginnings of Christmas ornaments dangling.

Posted on by

Petals as Paint Peaceful

My heart is happy with this work in progress from my Petals as Paint collection.
A collage of dahlias, hydrangea and elderberry — this creates a peaceful scene on a breezy day. A mist creates a foggy field beneath a periwinkle sky. A place of solace. Two trees stand in tranquility amidst a golden meadow.
Petals as Paint on burlap canvas.
©Belindabotzong2018

Thank you Diane Kindle and Nancy Craig for the flowers and thank you Lord Jesus for letting me Refind your perfect creations.

Posted on by

Sunburst Sold!!

So happy that Sunburst found a new home! Lovely couple from Seattle came in to Whatcom Art Market and loved the unique design painted with petals from dahlia and black eyed Susan. Made my heart happy ❤️
©Belindabotzong2018
Society6.com/Refindcreations

Posted on by

Dahlia Petals as Paint

The beauty of the dahlia has captured my imagination. The color wheel is built right in – reds and yellows, purples with white, and all manner of pinks and orange that create a beautiful palette for Painting with Petals.
I discovered a new adhesive. You all know I suffer from adhesions – sometimes getting glued to my own self. This is acrylic medium glossy and I loved it. Some change in the petals occurred after this photo but much less than using a water based adhesive.
It’s going into a frame and will be available at Whatcom Art Market tomorrow morning. An explosion of Fireworks Dahlia

©Belindabotzong2018

Posted on by

Refind Evolution

It all started in a garden
Then a lady came along and picked a dazzling fireworks Dahlia
She scanned it and photographed it multiple times. She filtered and posted and delighted the world
She dried it for weeks until it became kind of sad looking but she saw great potential
She unwrapped a canvas covered in burlap. She applied layers of aerosol adhesive and began plucking the sad looking petals and placing them in a design onto the canvas until a pattern developed. She said it was her favorite so far – but she says that every time. She said it looks like a dream catcher. He said it looks like fireworks. And the other he said it looks like an explosion.
She will let it sit and ponder what it will become — sleep on it dreaming of delightful ideas and share them with the world.


©Belindabotzong2018

Posted on by

Sunflowers for Sale

Thank you to all the people who’ve put a little sunflower in their lives!
The most recent went to my very nice friend Nancy, who stopped by the Whatcom Art Market and rescued one for her beautiful garden… or maybe for inside her home as a reminder of her garden as the days shorten and the seasons change!
I love their whimsical styling. These are a Refind of fishing cork, pine cone scales, acorns, upholstery tacks, antique lighting pieces and stems made of iron pipes.

©Belindabotzong2018

Posted on by

Refind Refind

I did it! I spent all afternoon taking down everything in my space at Whatcom Art Market and completely redesigning it to feature Art Inspired by Nature– almost every piece is made from or inspired by flowers from my garden and others.
On the right I installed an antique door to use as a feature piece to display door-decor! It will change with the seasons to make a centerpiece display. Since autumn arrives this week I decorated the door with garlands of artificial leaves and sunflowers to highlight several door decor items I created.
Center of the door has cork and architectural pieces from antique doors and drawers.
To the left of the door are two more corks and roses themed with antique door hardware acting as a vase holding dried roses.
In front of the door is an antique milk can filled with garden stakes — sunflowers made of cork, pine cone scales and vintage lighting fixture pieces. There are a couple old cupboard doors as well. One is Birchwood and the other autumn leaves.
In the center of the space I’m featuring ceramic tiles hand”painted” with flower petals in various designs. Another highlight is a framed elderberry flower in reflection. And finally one of my favorites– paper doll dresses flanked with matching flower petals. So far there is blue hydrangea, yellow orchid, and pretty pink petals.
On the left I have the postage-paid postcards, a few palette clipboards, and a new item — 4×4 ceramic tiles covered in various petals or handmade paper cutouts – a magnet on the back to decorate your refrigerator if you like.
I feel blessed to have this opportunity to participate in a vibrant art market and guild with so many talented people surrounding me and encouraging me!
Stop by if you’re out and about in Fairhaven and see what catches your eye!

©Belindabotzong2018